2017 SESSION

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); top two primary election. Provides for a top two primary election for the nomination of candidates for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. All candidates for each office shall be listed on a single ballot, regardless of political party affiliation or independent status, and the two candidates receiving the highest and next highest number of votes cast for each office shall be the candidates at the general election for such office. The resolution requires that provision be made to allow votes to be cast at a top two primary election for persons other than the listed candidates, but prohibits such votes from being cast at the general election. Additionally, the resolution provides that the political parties shall not nominate candidates for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General and that the political parties do not have the right to have a preferred candidate on the ballot at the general election for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. However, the political parties will have the right to contribute to, endorse, or otherwise support a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General in accordance with law.